There is Power in a Union – Billy Bragg
From the album “Talking with the Taxman About Poetry” – 1986
Based on the melody of the song “Battle Cry of Freedom”
The intro riff has been simplified. It doesn’t match exactly what Billy Bragg plays
but it is what I like to play
[CHORDS] EADGBe
GM7/F# 220033
[INTRO Riff]
e:-----|----------------|------12---------|--------------|--------------|
B:-O-1-|-3--3--1-0------|------13-----O-1-|-3--3--1-0--0-|-0--------0-1-|
G:-O-0-|-0--0--0-0--2-0-|-------------O-0-|-0--0--0-0--0-|-0-2------0-0-|
D:-----|------------0-0-|-2-2-------------|--------------|---0----------|
A:-----|----------------|-3-3-------------|--------------|--------------|
E:-----|----------------|-----------------|--------------|--------------|
e:|----------------|-----------------|------------|--------||
B:|-3--3--1-0------|-----------------|--------0-0-|--------||
G:|-0--0--0-0--2-0-|-----------------|-0----2-0-0-|-2-0----||
D:|------------0-0-|-2-2-2-----------|-0----0-----|-0-0----||
A:|----------------|-3-3-3-----------|------------|---2----||
E:|----------------|-----------------|------------|--------||
[VERSE]
G C
There is power in a factory, power in the land
G D Dsus4 D
Power in the hand of the worker
G GM7/F# C
But it all amounts to nothing if together we don't stand
G D G
There is power in a Union
[VERSE]
G C
Now the lessons of the past were all learned with workers blood
G D Dsus4 D
The mistakes of the bosses we must pay for
G GM7/F# C
From the cities and the farmlands to trenches full of mud
G D G
War has always been the bosses way, sir
[CHORUS]
G
The Union forever defending our rights
G D
Down with the blackleg, all workers unite
G GM7/F# C
With our brothers and our sisters from many far-off lands
G D G
There is power in a Union
[VERSE]
G C
Now I long for the morning that they realize
G D Dsus4 D
Brutality and unjust laws cannot defeat us
G GM7/F# C
But who'll defend the workers who cannot organize?
G D G
When the bosses send their lackeys out to cheat us?
[CHORUS]
G
Money speaks for money, the Devil for his own
G D
Who comes to speak for the skin and the bone?
G GM7/F# C
What a comfort to the widow, a light to the child
G D G
There is power in a Union
[SOLO] – over Chorus Chords
[CHORUS]
G
The Union forever defending our rights
G D
Down with the blackleg, all workers unite
G GM7/F# C
With our brothers and our sisters together we will stand
G D G
There is power in a Union